Sofa bed



sept. 14, 1965 M, FOX 3,205,511

Jfffrzzeys Sept. 14, 1965 M. Fox 3,205,511

SOFA BED Filed Aug. 31, 1962 5 sheets-sheet 2 M. FOX

SOFA BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WN NN 9N WN im #L ,\1QN

mK. m W u -U m s @d JKM@ www@ n f sept. 14, 1965 Filed Aug. 5l, 1962United States Patent O 3,205,511 SOFA BED Martin Fox, Chicago, Ill.,assigner to The Seng Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 3l,1962, Ser. No. 220,738 17 Claims. (Cl. 5-41) This invention relates to asofa bed, and in particular it relates to an operating linkage for asofa bed which permits it to be readily converted from sofa position tobed position by elevating the seat frame with respect to the base.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a linkagefor a sofa bed which permits it to be readily converted from sofa to bedposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide Va linkage whichpositively prevents movement of the sofa seat and back from sofaposition toward bed position in response to a rearward force applied toany part of the back.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a linkage whichpermits movement of the sofa seat and back from sofa position toward bedposition only when a force is applied which elevates the seat withrespect to the base.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a linkage for a sofabed in which a tension spring eases initial movement of the parts fromsofa position toward bed position, and vice versa.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a linkage for a sofabed which includes a foot pedal actuating lever which may be manuallymoved to give the seat frame an initial movement from sofa positiontoward bed position.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sofa bed which includes the linkage ofthe present invention, the unit being in sofa position, and cushionsbeing illustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. l with the unit in bed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken substantially as illustrated alongthe line 3 3 of FIG. 2; an-d FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section takensubstantially as illustrated along the line 4 4 of FlG. 2.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a sofa bed includes arectangular, leg supported base frame l@ having ends il, a front rail121, and a rear rail i3; a rectangular seat frame llt having ends 15, afront rail 16 and a rear rail 17; and a back frame i8 having ends 19, atop or rear rail 2t), and a bottom rail 2li. A seat cushion CS and aback cushion CB are shown in FIGS. l and 2 in broken lines. The seatframe M and back frame 18 are mounted on the base frame it) by means oflinkage, indicated generally at Z2, which constitutes the subject matterof the present invention. Since there are identical linkages Z?. atopposite ends of the frames, only one is illustrated and described indetail.

A mounting plate 23 secured to base frame end rail 1l carries a forwardpivot 24 for a forward link Z5, a rearward pivot 26 for a rearward link27, and an intermediate pivot 28 for a guide link 29.

End rail of seat frame lli, adjacent the rear seat rail 17, has anupstanding seat hinge plate 30, while end rail 19 of back frame 18carries a back hinge plate 3l adjacent the back trarne bottom rail Zi,said hinge plate 3l extending forwardly in sofa position, upwardly inbed position, and being connected to seat hinge plate 3@ by a hingepivot pin 32.

The upper end of forward link 25 is pivoted on seat hinge plate 30 at33, the upper end of rearward link 27 is pivoted on back hinge plate 3lat 34, while the upper 3,2ll5,5ll Patented Sept. 14,1965

ICC

end of guide link 29 is connected to hinge pivot 32. The location of thevarious pivots and the disposition of the links in sofa and in bedposition provide the desired mode of operation.

Referring iirst to FIG. l, forward link 25 is seen to occupy arearwardly inclined sofa position such that an extension of the line ofthe link 25 passes through the hinge pivot 32, while in that positionthe rearward link has its upper pivot 34 above said extension of theline of the link 2S, while the line of the guide link 29 is upwardly andrearwardly from the base pivot 28 to the hinge pivot 32, with anextension of said line of the guide link passing below and behind theupper pivot 34 for the rearward link 27. A stop 29a on mounting plate 23prevents eX- cessive rearward movement of the link 29.

The foregoing disposition of the linkage 22, and in particular thepositioning of the upper pivot 34 for the rearward link above theprojected line through pivot-s 24, 33 and 32 and `above and forward ofthe projected line through pivots 28 and 32, means that initial movementof the parts toward bed position requires that the seat frame ld beelevated with respect to the base frame 10, to move forward link pivot33 and hinge pivot 32 both forwardly and upwardly past a line drawn frompivot 24 to pivot 34. Mere application of rearward pressure on any partof back frame 13 (even the extreme upper end thereof) annot start themovement from sofa position toward bed position.

Referring especially to FIG. 2, in bed position the elements of thelinkage 22 act as a truss'support for the seat frame 14 and back frame18 to hold said frames in horizontal position resting on the base frontrail 12 and back rail 13, respectively.

To ease initial movement of the unit both from sofa position and frombed position, a tension spring 35 has one end connected to an arm 25a oflink 25, while its opposite end is connected to a Spring stud 36 at amore forward point on base end rail 11. Link 25 is actually a bellcrank, the first arm Z5 of which is connected to the seat hinge plate 30and the second arm 25a of which is seen to incline upwardly from pivot24 in sofa position and downwardly from said pivot in bed position.Thus, spring 35 in moving between sofa and bed positions crosses a linebetween pivot 24 and spring stud 36, and is under tension in both saidpositions so as to resiliently urge the linkage 22 from each positiontoward the other, thus easing initial movement in either direction.

Likewise, initial movement from sofa position is facilitated by use of apedal lever 37 which is pivoted at 38 on linkage mounting plate 23. Afree end 39 of lever 37 extend rearwardly from beneath base frame 10 atone end of said frame so as to be readily accessible for application offoot pressure, and the opposite end 40 of the pedal lever is best seenin FIGS. 1 and 4 to be turned inwardly beneath the rear end portion ofone of the seat frame end rails 15 so that pivoting the lever to bringits end 4G into contact with the seat frame elevates said frame andstarts the movement of said frame and the back frame toward bedposition. A tension spring 41 secured to lever 37 and to a stud 42 onback rail 13 of the base frame urges the lever to an idle position asseen in FIG. l, while foot pressure on the free end 39 pivots the leverto the broken line position vof FIG. 1 where it contacts the seat frame.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. ln a convertible sofa bed having rectangular base, seat and backframes, linkage means mounting said seat and back frames on said baseframe for selective movement between a sofa position and a bed position,and linkage means comprising, in combination: a pair of hinge means eachincluding a hinge pivot connecting the lower end of the back frame ofthe rear of the seat frame; a pair of forward links each of which ispivotally connected to one of the hinge means forward of and below thehinge pivot adjacent the rearward end of the seat frame and pivoted onthe end of the base frame for movement between a rearwardly inclinedsofa position and a forwardly inclined bed position; a pair of rearwardlinks each of which is pivotally mounted on an end of the base framenear the rear thereof and pivotally connected to one of the hinge meansat a point which is above and behind the hinge pivot in sofa positionand below and behind said hinge pivot in bed position; and a pair ofguide links each of which is pivotally connected to a hinge pivot and toan end of the base frame between the forward and rearward links, saidguide links occupying a rearwardly inclined .sofa position and aslightly forwardly inclined bed position, said linkage means in sofaposition locking the seat and back frames against being moved toward bedposition by an application of rearward pressure on said back frame,whereby movement of the seat and back frames from sofa position towardbed position may be initiated only by elevating the rear of the seatframe relative to the base frame.

2. The combination of claim 1 which includes a tension spring connectedto the forward link and to a more forward point on the base frame, saidspring in its travel between sofa and bed positions moving from one sideto the other of a straight line which connects the pivotal connection ofthe forward link on the base frame with said more forward point on thebase frame.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the connection of the spring ontothe forward link is above said line in sofa position and below said linein bed position.

4. The combination of claim 1 which includes an loperating lever pivotedon the base frame with one free end projecting outwardly from the baseframe and an opposite end positioned beneath the rear of the seat frameto elevate the rear of the seat frame relative to the base frame tostart movement of the frame to bed position when the lever is pivotedfrom an idle position, and spring means urging said lever toward idleposition.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the operating lever is a footpedal device pivoted on an end` of the base frame, the free end projectsslightly to the rear of the base frame, and the opposite end in idleposition is spaced slightly below the seat frame.

6. In a convertible sofa bed having rectangular basey sea-t and backframes, linkage means mounting said seat and back frames onsaid baseframe for selective movement between a sofa position and a bed position,said linkage means comprising, in combination a pair of seat hingeplates secured to the ends of said seat frame near the rear thereof; apair of back hinge plates secured to the ends of said back frame nearthe bottom thereof; a hinge pivot connecting each back hinge plate to aseat hinge plate; a pair of forward links each of which has an upperpivot connected to one of the seat hinge plates forward of and belowsaid hinge pivot adjacent the rearward end of the seat frame and a lowerpivot on an end of the base frame for movement between a rearwardlyinclined sofa position and a forwardly inclined bed position; a pair ofrearward links each of which has a lower pivot mounted on an end of thebase frame adjacent the rear thereof and an upper pivot connected to oneof the back hinge plates at a point which is above and behind the hingepivot in a sofa position and below and behind said hinge pivot in bedposition, a line projected from the forward link lower pivot to therearward link upper pivot passing above the forward link upper pivot andthe hinge pivot in sofa position; and a pair of guide links each ofwhich is pivotally connected to one of the hinge pivots and to an end ofthe base between the forward and rearward links, said guide linksoccupying a rearwardly inclined sofa position and a slightly forwardlyinclined bed position, said linkage means in sofa position locking theseat and back frames against being moved toward bed position by anapplication of rearward pressure on said back frame, whereby movement ofthe sea-t and back frames from sofa position toward bed position may beinitiated only by elevating the rear of the seat frame relative to thebase frame.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which each forward link is a bell crankhaving a irst arm pivotally connected to the hinge means and a secondarm which is inclined up from the pivotal connection of said link on thebase in sofa position and down from said pivotal connection in bedposition, and in which a tension spring connects said second arm to amore 'forward point on the base frame which is generally in the samehorizontal plane with said pivotal connection.

8. The combination of claim 7 which includes an operating lever pivotedon the base frame with one free end projecting outwardly from the baseframe and an opposite end positioned to elevate the rear of the seatframe relative to the base to start movement of the frames to bedposition when the lever is pivoted from an idle position, and springmeans urging said lever toward idle position.

9. In a convertible sofa bed having rectangular base, seat and backframes, linkage means mounting said seat and back frames on said baseframe for selective movement between a sofa position and a bed position,said linkage means comprising, in combination: a pair of hinge meanseach including a hinge pivot connecting the lower end of the back frameto the rear of the seat frame; a pair of forward links each pivotallyconnected -to one of the hinge means forward of and below the hingepivot and pivoted on the ends of the base frame for movement between arearwardly inclined sofa position and a forwardly inclined bed position,a projection of each of the line of said links in sofa position passingthrough the hinge pivot; a pair of rearward links each having a lowerpivot on an end of the base frame near the rear thereof and an upperpivot on one of the hinge means at a point which is above saidprojection of the line of the forward link in sofa position, said pointbeing below and behind the hinge pivot in bed position; and a pair ofguide links each of which is pivotally connected to a hinge pivot and toan end of the base frame between the forward and rearward links, aprojection of the line of each guide link in sofa position passing belowand behind the upper pivot of a rearward link, said guide links in bedposition being inclined slightly forward, said linkage means in sofaposition locking the seat and back frames against being moved toward bedposition by an application of rearward pressure on said back frame,whereby the seat and back frames may be moved from sofa to bed positiononly by elevating the seat frame relative to the base frame.

10. The combination of claim 9 which includes a tension spring connectedto the forward link and to a more forward point on the base frame, saidspring in its travel between sofa and bed positions moving from one sideto the other of a straight line which connects the pivotal connection ofthe forward link on the base frame with said more forward point on thebase frame.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the connection of the springonto the forward link is above the last named straight line in sofaposition and below said line in bed position.

12. The combination of claimy 9 which includes an operating leverpivoted on the base frame with one free end projecting outwardly fromthe base frame and an opposite end positioned to elevate the seat framerelative to the base frame to start movement of the frames to bedposition when the lever is pivoted from an idle position, and springmeans urging said lever toward idle position.

13. The combination of claim 12 in which the operating lever is a footpedal device pivoted on an end of the base frame, the free end projectsslightly to the rear of the base frame, and the opposite end in idleposition is spaced slightly below the seat frame.

14. The combination of claim 9 in which each forward link is a bellcrank having a first arm pivotally connected to the hinge means and tothe base frame and a second arm which is inclined up from the pivotalconnection of said link on the base frame in sofa position and down fromsaid pivotal connection in bed position, and in which a tension springconnects said second arm to a more forward point on the base frame whichis generally in the same horizontal plane with said last named pivotalconnection.

15. The combination of claim 14 which includes an operating leverpivoted on the base frame with one free end projecting outwardly fromthe base frame and an opposite end positioned to elevate the seat framerelative to the base frame to start movement of the frames to bedposition when the lever is pivoted from an idle position, and springmeans urging said lever toward idle position.

16. In a convertible sofa bed having rectangular base, seat and backframes, linkage means mounting said seat and back frames on said baseframe for selective movement between a sofa position and a bed position,said linkage means comprising, in combination: a pair of hinge meanseach including a hinge pivot connecting the lower end of the back frameto the rear of the seat frame; a pair of forward links each pivotallyconnected to one of the hinge means forward of and below the hinge pivotadjacent the rearward end of the seat frame and pivoted on the ends ofthe base frame for movement between a rearwardly inclined sofa positionand a forwardly inclined bed position; a pair of rearward links eachhaving a lower pivot on an end of the base frame near the rear thereofand an upper pivot on one of the hinge means at a point which is aboveand behind the hinge pivot in sofa position and below and behind thehinge pivot in bed position; and a pair of guide links each of which ispivotally connected to a hinge pivot and to an end of the base framebetween the forward and rearward links, a projection of the line of eachguide link in sofa position passing below and behind the upper pivot ofa rearward link in sofa position, said guide links in bed position beinginclined slightly forward, said linkage means in sofa position lockingthe seat and back frames against being moved toward bed position by anapplication of rearward pressure on said back frame, whereby the seatand back frames may be moved from sofa to bed position only by elevatingthe seat frame relative to the base frame.

17. The combination of claim 16 in which each hinge pivot is below aline projected from the rearward link upper pivot to the forward linkpivotal connection with the base frame in sofa position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,055 5/22Bayer 5-18 2,340,845 2/ 44 Hampton 5-48 3,107,364 10/ 63 Simmons 5-41FOREIGN PATENTS 222,830 8/ 62 Austria.

551,589 10/56 Belgium.

630,814 11/61 Canada.

806,416 12/58 Great Britain.

92,615 10/58 Norway.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

